That would be great news indeed said:
If what you said above is true and factual, then I may be wasting my time driving 180 miles in this nasty weather to request an intermin EAD. Not only do I drive that far, I also take a personal day (which could have been used for a real and valid reason, not wasted because of USCIS incompetence), and maybe not even get the interim EAD.
Wonder where does that leave me in terms of legal matters? If my EAD expires on Wednesday per se, and I don't have a renewal card from USCIS, and the district office does not issue an interim card, do I become illegal on Thursday? Do I stop working until I hear something from USCIS? Or do I continue working as if nothing has happened, and wait for the card anyway?
See, how these questions and concerns impact our daily lives, affect our peace of mind, and distract us from other, more important matters...
Technically, there is not one good reason why USCIS will not process a renewal card within 90 days of filing, other than a deliberate vile attempt to harass ordinary people. Whether they randomly pick on people, or just mark some people is an unknown to me. I know that I have found myself in a limbo yet again, and it feels like deja vu all over again...
To make the situation even more perverse than it is already, you do not become illegal on thursday as you feared.
You will be legal to stay in this land, but illegal to work in it! What a set of garbage, but nevertheless per the letter of the law, you are in legal status as long as you have 485 pending. You however can only work with work authorisation.
This entire system was set up in an era when you were expected to be in the 485 stage no longer than perhaps 1 yr or so. The concept of multiple EAD renewals, year after year after year after year is relatively new! Hence we are like columbus explorers not exactly knowing where we are going and hoping desperately that we don't fall off the edge of the world!
Sorry buddy. I have no better news for you. Should tomorrow, my fate be the same then, I too will end up in status but unable to work.